Dwight Yoakam "Blame the Vain" Yoakam helped...

June 27, 2005|By JOSHUA KLEIN, REDEYE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR.

Dwight Yoakam

"Blame the Vain"

Yoakam helped inaugurate country's traditionalist movement years ago, and now that most of mainstream country is mired in arena rock trappings, the time seems right for him to knock things back to basics once again. "Blame" is predictably light on fancy frills, but there are a few surprises. "She'll Remember" begins like a psychedelic synth rocker before taking a turn back into twang territory. Yoakam's tear-in-your-beer ballads alternate with some of the best roadhouse country you'll hear all year.

Best track: "Intentional Heartache," which begins with a barrage of bongos and ends with a hilarious stream of redneck invectives straight out of "King of the Hill."